What is SaaS Identity Risk Management?

SaaS Identity Risk Management (SIRM) is a cybersecurity product category designed to address the unique challenges and risks associated with identity management in an enterprise’s SaaS (Software as a Service) portfolio. This category emphasizes the discovery and management of risks across various SaaS services and web applications, focusing on identifying and mitigating threats related to identity sprawl and unsecured or unsanctioned SaaS usage. It aims to provide comprehensive solutions for securing SaaS applications, ensuring compliance, and managing identity-related risks effectively.

This category differs from existing categories like CASB (Cloud Access Security Brokers) and SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management) in several ways:

1. Scope of Coverage: While CASB focuses on monitoring SaaS risks through network data and SSPM is concerned with the security posture of a limited set of known SaaS applications, SaaS Identity Risk Management encompasses the entire set of SaaS applications that are not monitored because they are procured by individual users and bypass the official purchase process, which is the bulk of SaaS that is used in enterprises. SIRM also focuses on the identity-related risks and goes beyond CASB and SSPM to control access where needed. 

2. Identity-Centric Approach: This new category places a significant emphasis on identity as a control point. It addresses issues like identity sprawl, where employees have access to multiple unmonitored and potentially unsecured SaaS accounts.

3. Comprehensive Risk Management: Unlike CASB and SSPM that may operate in silos for specific security functions, SaaS Identity Risk Management takes a more integrated approach. It deals with the interconnected nature of risks in SaaS environments, considering how a breach in one area (like generative AI applications) can impact multiple systems and services.

4. Adaptability and Integration: This category is designed to adapt to a wide range of SaaS applications and services, providing more flexible and integrative solutions for identity risk management across various platforms.

5. Automated Detection and Mitigation: It includes features for automatically detecting shadow IT, rogue cloud accounts, and other risks associated with unsanctioned SaaS use. Furthermore, it facilitates the prioritization and mitigation of these risks in an automated and streamlined manner.

6. Dynamic Access Control: SaaS Identity Risk Management focuses on dynamic access control mechanisms that respond in real-time to emerging threats and changes in user behavior or risk profiles.

SaaS Identity Risk Management represents a more holistic and identity-focused approach to managing security in SaaS environments, addressing a range of risks that extend beyond the capabilities of traditional CASB and SSPM solutions.